Emirates boosts Skywards miles, raises reward levels for Australian flights
By David Flynn, March 22 2013
Emirates Airline is boosting the number of Skywards Miles earned for flights out Australia, but will also increase the number of miles needed to claim free reward flights or upgrades.
The move comes at Emirates gears up for next weekend's launch of the Qantas/Emirates alliance on March 31st.
"As a refinement to our programme and as part of our partnership with Qantas, we are making some changes to the Emirates Skywards programme which include more closely aligning our reward offering in Australia" the airline notes.
From March 31st, travel commencing in Australia will earn a higher number of Skywards Miles, including Tier Miles which dictate your Skywards status.
However, from July 1st, the number of Skywards Miles required for Emirates flight rewards on trips originating in Australia will also increase.
See the full table for Emirates' new Skywards earning and redemption levels for flights from Australia
Emirates notes that travellers can book reward travel at the existing levels until July 1st.
"Our changes to earning and reward levels ensure that the number of revenue trips required to obtain a reward ticket will remain the same as they do today, while enhancing your ability to earn and retain tier status" the airline states.
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David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Skywards Gold
21 Apr 2011
Total posts 53
Any idea how this would impact:
- Miles needed to upgrade (pre and post 1/7)
- Availability of upgrades/award tickets boked pre 1/7 (will ACCC or other appropriate regulator monitor this?)
- Tickets with a departure date pre 31/3 and return post 31/3
On a side note, does any one know how op ups will be processed under the new alliance? i.e. Will it be EK P,G,S then QF P,G,S or EK P, QF P, EK G, QF G.....
20 Sep 2012
Total posts 76
Not especially good for Citibank Emirates Platinum card holders... they're not going to increase the earning allowance.
It's a shame they make these changes for interinaries that originate from Australia only. It seems that this alliance is going to only be good for Qantas customers (and even many of them debate that) at the expense of loyal Emirates customers.
Suppose it's time to start thinking about joining KrisFlyer now instead.
20 Sep 2012
Total posts 76
Just further, it seems the increase is from 90,000 to 128,000 for a return reward to Europe. That's a massive increase.
Skywards Gold
21 Apr 2011
Total posts 53
128k saver so good luck with availability
20 Sep 2012
Total posts 76
It was more a reference to the increase - but totally agree. Wonder how much the upgrades are going to increase by.
All of a sudden the Emirates proposition is much less of a proposition.
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